When family and football fit: Kirbys enjoy Eastern Alamance season with unique twists

Sunday

Dec 23, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 23, 2012 at 2:24 AM

Bob Sutton / Times-News

Eastern Alamance football coach John Kirby had been through plenty of Senior Night ceremonies. Then there was a different one this past autumn.

One of the players among the honorees was his son, tight end J.T. Kirby.

“On Senior Night, my wife told me I had to wear pants and I couldn’t wear shorts,” the coach said.

Thus began something different for the Eagles coach. But for much of the season it was more of the same for his team this year, which produced a stellar campaign and a 12-2 record.

That, in part, made Kirby — coach and father — the Times-News All-Region Coach of Year for the fourth time.

Just about when you think you’ve experienced nearly everything, along came a season like none other for the veteran coach. He was coaching his only son for the last time.

The Kirbys embraced the opportunity rather than concern themselves with any awkwardness that might be there.

“It’s a dream come true,” J.T. Kirby said as the Eagles had advanced to the third round of the Class 3-A state playoffs. “Getting to this point, it’s kind of the goal for both of us to be in the playoffs.”

That meant there were times when Coach Kirby would be home studying footage of the next opponent that J.T. Kirby would join him. For the coach, it made the time more valuable — whether it was 15 minutes, a half-hour, an hour — that it could be about team and family.

“You never get those times back,” Coach Kirby said.

The coach said it was always important to treat his son like the other players on the field. Of course, there were at least some built-in advantages living in the same house.

After all, Coach Kirby is a man with an array of one-liners and his own brand of humor.

“I learned a long time ago not to roll your eyes at him,” J.T. Kirby said. “That’s one of his pet peeves.”

At the end of the season when the Eagles suffered a one-point loss to Orange, it took the typical toll on the senior class playing its final high school football game. Coach Kirby said he kept it together, up to the certain point.

“I was OK that night,” he said, then pointing out that he was in the locker room taking care of end-of-season duties. “But the next day I found myself in his locker crying.”

The father rolehad several elements along the way in 2012.

In the regular season, Coach Kirby skipped a halftime session with his team amid a romp past McMichael. That came on homecoming.

Instead of spending time with the sweaty Eagles, the coach was on the field for halftime festivities. He escorted his daughter, Lauren, who was the freshman class representative for the homecoming court.

“First halftime (ceremony) I’ve seen in 28 years,” he said. “It felt kind of weird. … Got to play that daddy role.”

Then came that pregame ceremony later in the season.

“Senior Night was weird,” Coach Kirby said. “You coach kids for 20-some years and then your own is one of them. It has been fun.”

J.T. Kirby recognized the significance. “I don’t know how many Senior Nights he has done and then I’m out there,” he said.

The Senior Night moment not only meant that the Eagles must carry on in future seasons without the coach’s son in uniform, but without one of their key contributors.

“He really has had an outstanding season,” Coach Kirby said.

Superstitions became partof Coach Kirby’s mindset for game nights years ago.

That might have had something to do with him wearing shorts all those seasons, even on brisk November nights when others showed up at the stadiums wearing layers of clothing.

Perhaps it wasn’t all bad to alter the routine.

“I turned 50 this year and I get colder easier,” Coach Kirby said.

So in a year that had different elements for numerous reasons for a man with more than two decades of coaching, the subtle changes — even in wardrobe — late in the season didn’t pass without mention.